More than 50 arrested after thousands of protesters attended Million Mask March

Thousands of people descended on central London for the Million Mask March which saw police make 53 arrests.

Walking from Trafalgar Square, where the march started, protesters holding flares chanted "Whose streets? Our Streets!" as they made their way to Westminster.

Clad in Guy Fawkes masks, thousands of supporters of Anonymous, the anarchic hacking collective, carried placards as they made their way through the Capital while scores of police officers maintained a tight perimeter around them.

Scotland Yard said there had been 53 arrests, including three for possession of an offensive weapon, 14 for drugs and two for the non-removal of a face mask.

"Whilst the majority of those taking part were peaceful, there were pockets of disorder and a number of fireworks thrown which thankfully did not result in injury," Scotland Yard said.

At one point the group claimed responsibility for crashing the Met's website.

Fireworks were set off in the crowd near the Houses of Parliament and bottles were thrown.

Police had warned "masked criminals seeking to run amok" that they will be arrested if the protest turns violent.

People took to social media to say they had witnessed police carrying out a large number of stop and searches.

The protest began peacefully, with several participants climbing the base of Nelson's column and chanting the slogan "one solution, revolution".

One woman on a loudspeaker warned "there may be kettling" as the procession along Whitehall began.

Members of the public inside restaurant Garfunkle's were also trapped inside the cordon.

Oxford University student Emma Janson, 18, came into the restaurant to get away from the mob with two friends.

She said: "We don't know how we're going to get out of here.

"We only came in here to get away from them and there was no where else to go.

A masked protester holds up a flareCredit:
Getty Images

"It's really uncomfortable to watch them throwing bottles and fireworks from outside the window.

"Hopefully by the time we leave they will be gone.

"It's pretty scary."

The police beamed a message in green letters onto a building in Parliament Square, which read: "Please observe Public Order Act restrictions. Failure to comply may result in arrest and prosecution. Officers may require you to remove facial covering. Failure to comply is an offence."

It came after members of the crowd ignited fireworks and flares in front of Westminster Abbey.

Angela Windsor, an unemployed 40-year-old, said she travelled from Wales to take part in the event.

"Nobody is protecting people - nobody cares," she said.

"I think everyone here cares enough about people to make the effort to come down and try and do something, because the officials aren't doing it."

Masked protesters in front of the House of Commons ahead of the Million Mask MarchCredit:
BenPruchnie/Getty Images

She said anyone who tried to incite a repeat of last year's violent displays would be missing the point.

"Nobody wants a fight, we just want change," she said.

But she was forced to defend the wording of a sign she was brandishing - including the words "death to the monarchy" - when questioned about it by passers-by.

There was a heavy police presence in London ahead of the Million Mask MarchCredit:
Ben Cawthra/LNP

A father-of-two who brought his young children along to the march said: "I think it's the right choice to make to bring my kids up right.

"Change is coming and we are at the forefront."

Masked protesters in Trafalgar SquareCredit:
PA Wire

One protester, a history student at Greenwich, Sarah Gosney-Davies said: "People are not happy with the way things are in this country.

"There has been a huge rise in unemployment and homelessness and I want to see Theresa May and her unelected government out.

"Wages have stayed the same and the cost of living had increased.

"People are starting to realise that things aren't right."

A protester and police in Parliament SquareCredit:
PA Wire

A 63-year-old, who counted the march as her third, said: "About ten years ago I realised the system is corrupt and ever since I have been following anonymous.

"This world has to change and the government does not represent us."

The annual protest is one of many similar marches held worldwide on November 5. Its agenda is broadly anti-capitalism and pro-civil liberty.

A protester arrives early for the marchCredit:
Matthew Chattle/Alamy Live News

Commander BJ Harrington of the Met’s Public Order Command said: "I would like to commend my officers policing this challenging event for their professionalism and faultless co-ordination.

"I would also like to thank those participants who conducted themselves in a peaceful manner as well as Londoners and those visiting our city for their patience and tolerance.

“We facilitate hundreds of peaceful protests every year in London usually with the co-operation of the organisers. On this occasion although the organisers did not engage with police, the majority of protesters did adhere to the conditions imposed. Only a small minority chose to breach the conditions and engage in criminality.”Police imposed conditions on the march, limiting it to a three-hour period between 6pm and 9pm on a prescribed route between Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.

Demonstrators take part in the Million Mask March in Trafalgar SquareCredit:
Ben Cawthra/LNP

Last year's march saw ugly scenes as missiles and fireworks were thrown at police. Four officers and six police horses were injured.

More than 1,000 people are estimated to have taken part and there were more than 50 arrests.